Refrigerant R290 is a promising alternative to R22

Refrigerant R290

Refrigerant R290, also known as CARE 40, is a refrigerant grade propane that is suitable for use in modern common refrigerants.

It's predecessor, R22, was previously the only similarly behaving propane in terms of thermodynamic behavior. However R22 was also less efficient in places with high ambient temperature or high humidity. Refrigerant R290 improves the performance of refrigerators in these conditions.

As R290 has such a low impact on the environment, it is now used far more than it used to be and the number of uses it has is growing. It is non toxic, which means it's great to use around the home. And indeed it is, in air conditioning units. Businesses also use it for this reason, where it is most commonly used for industrial or commercial refrigeration (including vending machines) and in air conditioning units. However, it is highly flammable so therefore it is not suitable for use in fluorocarbon refrigerant systems which were not manufactured for use with R290 originally.

Some examples of where it can be used most efficiently are:

In small to mid sized shops in developing countries where the ambient temperature is high - bottle coolers, ice cream freezers and vending machines being ideal candidates here.

In air conditioning units where it is more humid than usual and therefore needs a refrigerant grade propane that can handle the thermodynamic conditions.

In places where the environmental concerns of using R22 can easily be switched out.

On top of being non toxic, R290 has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (or ODP) and a very low Global Warming Potential (or GWP) of just 3. This means that it won't to do as much damage to the environment as R22 which has a GWP of 1700. With these sorts of large scale refrigerant and cooling devices such common place nowadays it is essential that people are able to lessen their impact on the environment and R290 is the perfect propane for doing this. By switching from R290 to R22 in applicable refrigeration and cooling units this can easily be achieved, provided that safety regulations surrounding the installation and usage are adequately met.

Author: Wendy Williams

Wendy Williams started swimming competitively at the age of 8, after being picked to swim for her school at a local gala. She won her race and the regional final, which led to her being trained at a county level. When Wendy was 14, she decided that she could no longer cope with the unflattering swimming costumes so started to customise hers to wear during training. Her colourful costumes were much complimented and soon Wendy realised that there was a gap in the market for attractive swimwear that was also practical to actually swim in. Wendy's Waterwear took off from there and she now has a successful online business.

Wendy has been married to Adam for just over a year and they are expecting their first child in the New Year. She has tried to learn to knit and make a baby cardigan but has had to give up and buy one from Monsoon instead. Her son or daughter will be a water baby as she is planning on giving birth in a birthing pool.